Sep 4th Upanyasam and more

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Sri:

Sri Lakshmi nrisimha parabrahmaNE nama:

Sri Lakshmi nrisimha divya paduka sevaka

srivan satakopa sri narayana yatindra mahadesikaya nama:

 

 

On Sep 4th Upanyaasam

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This time was special because a group of bhagavathas from Singapore also

joined the bhagavatha gOshti. For the first time Srimad Azhagiya Singar's

musical voice reverberated both to the east and to the west of India.

 

Today's upanyasam covered the last two lines of the third paasuram:

 

periya vaN kurukoor nagar nambikku

AL uriyannay adiyEn peRRa nanmaiyE

 

As before adiyEn would like to highlight just a few points. In a nut shell,

even in these two lines Madhurakavi continues to show that Nammaazhvar is

greater than perumaaL and Thirukurukoor is greater than even Sri Vaikuntam,

but in a subtle manner.

 

periya vaN kurukoor nambi

-------------------------

 

periya (big): Kurukoor is where Nammaazhvaar is. Inside Nammaazhvar

is the Paramapadhanaathan in whom dwells this world,

the other worlds. Thus, Nammaazhvaar is greater than

even Paramapadhanaathan. Such Nammaazhvaar dwells in

Kurukoor. Now, you figure out which is greater,

Paramapadham or Kurukoor.

 

Reference - Periya Thiruvandhaathi #75:

------

puviyum iruvisumpum ninnagaththa, nee yen

seviyin vazhi pugunthu ennuLLAy,- avivu inRi

yaanperiyan neeperiyai enpathanai yaaraRivaar,

oonparuku nEmiyaay! uLLu.

 

(avivu = aRivu, i.e. intellect

uLLu = think

oon paruku nEmi = deadly divine disc)

 

vaN : Nammaazhvaar's benevolence is greater than that of

even PerumaaL. Vaikundanaathan's generosity stopped

with only Nammaazhvar. He graced only Nammaazhvar,

vide " mayarvaRa mathinalam " (Thiruvaaymozhi 1-1-1).

But Nammaazhvaar's generosity is towards the entire

world. Nammaazhvaar's prabhandhams are available

for everyone. Thus the title " vaN " .

(vaN = udhAram, vaLLaL thanmani, generosity)

 

nambi : Nambi means poorNar. PerumaaL is poorNar only for

nammaazhvaar, but Nammaazhvaar is poorNar for everyone,

not just Madhurakavi.

 

 

adiyEn peRRa nanmaiyE

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The use of past tense " peRRa nanmai " indicates that by surrendering to

Nammaazhvaar, Madurakavi has already achieved all the " nanmai " (good). On

the other hand, Nammaazhvaar who surrendered to the Lord wonders in many of

his songs as to when mOksham will become a reality for him. Then, who is

greater? Surrender to PerumaaL and wait, surrender to Nammaazhvaar and get

all the " nanmai " immediately.

 

 

More on adiyEn

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The opposite of adiyEn is Swami. The term adiyEn implies that he/she does

not have any individual likes and dislikes independent of the Swami for whom

he/she is the " adiyEn " .

 

(adiyEn's personal observation:

We use the term adiyEn quite often. Some have

expressed in private and in public that this

term is being overused to the extent that it

has lost its meaning. Further, for some the

usage of the term " adiyEn " is awkward.

 

Well, when we use this term we are forced to

assume a level of humility, albeit insincerely.

But, in due course it does have an impact. Soon,

we feel as awkward using " I " as we may have

felt using " adiyEn " earlier. Also, such practice

will sooner or later force one to reevaluate

his/her relationship with Acharya. That is,

even if the usage is insincere in the beginning,

sooner or later it will have an impact. Thus,

it seems there is no danger in the over use of

" adiyEn " especially compared to the danger of

over use of " I " .

 

Questions:

----------

It is better to keep the questions relevant to the upanyaasam. Other

questions that may be of personal interest is better asked in a private

conversation. Srimad Azhagiya Singar will be happy to receive phone calls

after 9:00 p.m. Indian time.

 

However, two important questions outside the upanyaasam topic were asked by

Sri Krihna Kalale and Smt. Geetha of Singapore. adiyEn would like to thank

them for bringing up these questions.

 

[1] Are Azhvaars nithyasoorees?

------------------------------

Srimad Azhagiya Singar answered this with an emphatic YES.

 

This question has plagued us for quite sometime. Swami Sri Desikan himself

clearly states this fact in Srimad RTS. Abhibnava Desikar Sri Uttamoor

Swami also answers the question in the affirmative in the most direct way

possible. Yet, objections to this answer have been raised in the past. Now

that Srimad Azhagiya Singar's thiruvuLLam is now in the open, which is

nothing but 100% sampradaayic view, we can put this question to rest.

 

[2] Can women recite Sri Vishnu Sahasranaamam?

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Srimad Azhagiya Singar answered this in the negative. Mindful of the

controversy, HH added that HH is giving the answer because this question is

now put to him. Srimad Azhagiya Singar suggested Swami Sri Desikan's

sthOthrams in stead. HH asserted why must one insist on doing what is not

proper, especially when the benefits of reciting Sri Vishnusahasranaam can

be derived from the recitation of Desika Sthothramala.

 

As Sri Sannithi sishyas Srimad Azhagiya Singar's divine words must now be

final. As " adiyEn " we cannot have any independent like or dislike.

 

It is well known that the most popular Sri Vishnusahasranaamam recitation is

by Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi. Obviously, this is not proper for our homes.

While we can continue to enjoy Smt. M.S.'s rendering of Anaamaacharya songs,

we as Sri Sannithi sishyas must refrain from playing Smt. M.S.'s Sri Vishnu

sahasranaamam. But we need to go one step further. For the benefit of

sincere sishyas we must now produce a new Sri Vishnusahasranaama cassette/CD

rendered by a Sri Vaishnava male. Please contact adiyEn if you have any

ideas.

 

srimad azhagiya singar thiruvadigaLE saraNam

 

-- adiyEn ramanuja dasan